"You will continue to lose goodness after goodness until nothing remains of you except like this"—and he pointed to a date pit—"and what has no goodness in it." It was recorded by al-Bukhārī in "al-Tārīkh" (2/1/309), Ibn Ḥibbān (1832), al-Ḥākim (4/434), and al-Ṭabarānī (4492) from Bakr ibn Suwādah al-Judhāmī that Suḥaym narrated to him from Ruwayfiʿ ibn Thābit al-Anṣārī (raḍiya Allāhu ʿanhu). "Dates or fresh dates were brought to the Messenger of Allāh (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam), and they ate from them until nothing remained except the pits and what has no goodness in it. The Messenger of Allāh (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) said: 'Do you know what this is? You will continue to lose...' the ḥadīth." Al-Ḥākim said: "Its isnād is authentic!" and al-Dhahabī agreed! This is what they said, and Suḥaym was mentioned by Ibn Abī Ḥātim (2/1/303) from the narration of this Bakr only from him, and he did not mention any criticism or commendation of him. As for Ibn Ḥibbān, he mentioned him in "al-Thiqāt" (1/81) from this narration as well! He also mentioned "Suḥaym, the client of Banū Zuhrah al-Qurashī, who narrates from Abū Hurayrah. Al-Zuhrī narrated from him." I say: It is possible, in my opinion, that this is the first one. And Allāh knows best. Yes, the ḥadīth is established, for it has a supporting narration from the ḥadīth of Abū Hurayrah, raised to the level of the Prophet, with the wording: "You will be selected as dates are selected from the bowl, so the best of you will go, and the worst of you will remain. So die if you can." It was recorded by al-Bukhārī in "al-Tārīkh" (Kunyā - 25), Ibn Mājah (4038), and al-Ḥākim (4/316 and 334) through the route of Yūnus ibn Yazīd from Ibn Shihāb from Abū Ḥumayd, the client of Masāfiʿ, who said: I heard Abū Hurayrah (raḍiya Allāhu ʿanhu) narrating that the Messenger of Allāh (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) said: and he mentioned it. Al-Ḥākim said: "Its isnād is authentic." And al-Dhahabī agreed